Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Khanna, S. K.

Publications and source records attributed to Khanna, S. K..

32 records · Page 2

Observation of adsorbate-induced surface states by elastic electron tunneling spectroscopy

Electronic structure induced by adsorbates at the interface of Al/AlOx/Au tunnel junctions has been observed by elastic electron tunneling spectroscopy. Strong structures appearing in the tunneling spectra above approximately 1 eV after exposure to I, Hg, Bi, and organohalides, have been interpreted in terms of adsorbate-induced surface states. The spectroscopic capabilities of elastic electron tunneling spectroscopy may be useful in the area of chemical detection. In the broader sense, the observation of adsorbate-induced unoccupied electronic states below the vacuum energy, makes elastic electron tunneling spectroscopy a potentially useful technique for the study of surfaces.

Leduc, H. G.↗

Corrosion resistant coating

A method of coating a substrate with an amorphous metal is described. A solid piece of the metal is bombarded with ions of an inert gas in the presence of a magnetic field to provide a vapor of the metal which is deposited on the substrate at a sufficiently low gas pressure so that there is formed on the substrate a thin, uniformly thick, essentially pinhole-free film of the metal.

Khanna, S. K.↗

Internal stresses in wear and corrosion resistant amorphous metallic coatings of (W/0.6/Re/0.4/)76B24 and (Mo/0.6/Ru/0.4/)82B18

Hard protective coatings in the W-Re-B and Mo-Ru-B alloy systems have been deposited by magnetron sputtering onto soda-lime glass and heat-treated AISI 52100 steel substrates. X-ray diffraction has confirmed the amorphous nature of the as-deposited coatings, and their crystallization temperatures were determined by differential thermal analysis to be 1000 and 790 C for W-Re-B and Mo-Ru-B coatings, respectively. Both coatings exhibit high microhardness; Mo-Ru-B, in addition, has excellent corrosion resistance by comparison with pure Mo at high anodic potentials. Attention is given to the influence of internal stresses on the protective properties of the coatings deposited under different conditions.

Thakoor, A. P.↗

Alkali Metal Thermoelectric Conversion (AMTEC) for space nuclear power systems

Performance parameters of the Alkali Metal Thermoelectric Converter (AMTEC) for a 100 kW electric power system have been calculated at four technological levels assuming a heat pipe-cooled nuclear reactor heat source. The most advanced level considered would operate between 1180 K converter temperature and 711 K radiator temperature at 16 percent efficiency, and would weigh 1850 kg with a radiator area of 43 sq m. In addition, electrode research studies for the AMTEC systems have been conducted utilizing an experimental test cell of Bankston et al. (1983) and Mo and several Mo-Ti electrodes. It was found that the Mo-Ti electrodes offered no improvement in lifetime characteristics over the pure Mo electrodes, however, oxygen treatment of a degraded Mo electrode restored its specific power output to 90 percent of its original specific power and maintained this level for 60 hr, thus offering a potential for lifetime stability.

Bankston, C. P.↗

Corrosion behavior of magnetron sputter-deposited (Mo/0.6/Ru/0.4/)82B18 and Mo82B18 amorphous metal films

Amorphous metallic films of Mo49Ru33B18 and Mo82B18 have been prepared by magnetron sputtering, and their corrosion behavior was investigated and compared with amorphous liquid-quenched Mo49Ru33B18 and crystalline Mo i acidic and basic solutions. Sputtered Mo49Ru33B18 showed lower corrosion rates compared with liquid-quenched Mo49Ru33B18, owing to the superior surface smoothness and uniformity of the former. Amorphous Mo82B18 showed low corrosion rates in both acidic and basic aqueous solutions. Comparison of the corrosion properties of Mo49Ru33B18 with Mo82B18 and Mo demonstrates the roles of the alloys' constituents. Ru significantly extends the passive region to high-anodic potentials, but, at less-anodic potentials, Mo82B18 has the lowest corrosion rate.

Williams, R. M.↗

Observation of surface states on gold films by electron tunneling spectroscopy

It is pointed out that inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy (IETS) is a useful technique for the study of vibrational modes of molecules adsorbed on the surface of the insulating layer in a metal-insulator-metal tunnel junction. A detailed study of electron tunneling in aluminum-aluminum oxide-gold (Al-Al2O3-Au) tunnel junctions has been conducted with an overall goal of exploring possible mechanisms in such a thin film device useful for chemical sensing. For an understanding of the electronic effects in the presence of chemicals in a junction, the electronic surface properties of the metallic films in a clean tunnel junction must be established. The present investigation is concerned with room temperature observations of electronic states on the surface of highly oriented gold film in Al-Al2O3-Au junctions.

Lambe, J.↗

Inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy

Inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy is a useful technique for the study of vibrational modes of molecules adsorbed on the surface of oxide layers in a metal-insulator-metal tunnel junction. The technique involves studying the effects of adsorbed molecules on the tunneling spectrum of such junctions. The data give useful information about the structure, bonding, and orientation of adsorbed molecules. One of the major advantages of inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy is its sensitivity. It is capable of detecting on the order of 10 to the 10th molecules (a fraction of a monolayer) on a 1 sq mm junction. It has been successfully used in studies of catalysis, biology, trace impurity detection, and electronic excitations. Because of its high sensitivity, this technique shows great promise in the area of solid-state electronic chemical sensing.

Khanna, S. K.↗

Influence of the microstructure on the corrosion behavior of magnetron sputter-quenched amorphous metallic alloys

The microstructure and corrosion behavior of magnetron sputter deposited amorphous metallic films of (Mo6ORu40)82B18 under varying sputtering atmospheres have been investigated. The microstructural details and topology of the films have been studied by scanning electron microscopy and correlated with the deposition conditions. By reducing the pressure of pure argon gas, the characteristic features of rough surface and columnar growth full of vertical voids can be converted into a mirror-smooth finish with very dense deposits. Films deposited in the presence of O2 or N2 exhibit columnar structure with vertical voids. Film deposited in pure argon at low pressure show remarkably high corrosion resistance due to the formation of a uniform passive surface layer. The influence of the microstructure and surface texture on the corrosion behavior is discussed.

Thakoor, A. P.↗

Secondary lithium batteries for space applications

Secondary lithium cells which use a LiAsF6-2-Me-THF electrolyte and a TiS2 intercalatable cathode exhibit encouraging cycle life at ambient temperature. Electrochemical and surface analytical studies indicate that the electrolyte is unstable in the presence of metallic lithium, leading to the formation of a lithium passivating film composed of lithium arsenic oxyfluorides and lithium fluorsilicates. The lithium cyclability remains as the most important problem to solve. Different electrolyte solvents, such as sulfolane, exhibit promising characteristics but lead to new compatibility problems with the other cell component materials.

Carter, B.↗

Optical, spin-resonance, and magnetoresistance studies of /tetrathiatetracene/2/iodide/3 - The nature of the ground state

A recent investigation in which Isett and Perez-Albuerne (1977) found that (tetrathiatetracene)2(iodine)3 is a stable organic metal down to 3.3 K is of considerable interest. In view of the diversity of suggestions made regarding this compound, measurements, were made of its electrical, magnetic, and optical properties. The results obtained indicate a metallic state at high temperatures, but also support a nonmetallic state at temperatures below 30 K. At 20-30 K, a metal-to-insulator phase transition occurs. This is indicated by the onset of a large and positive magnetoresistance, the leveling off in the temperature dependence of the ESR linewidth, and by recent derivative analysis of the electrical conductivity in this region. The investigated compound represents an interesting one-dimensional electronic system in which it may be possible to study the combined effects of disorder and interchain coupling on charge transport processes.

Somoano, R. B.↗